Help us Promote Homeownership in Pennsylvania

Homeowners are the proud backbone of Pennsylvania’s communities, but now more than ever homeowners need help to avoid foreclosure. Pennsylvania has been fortunate to have the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) for homeowners facing foreclosure, but HEMAP needs more resources to help the increasing number of homeowners in trouble - and is facing elimination due to budget cuts.

Making the mortgage payment isn't the only financial challenge for homeowners. Over time, as homes deteriorate, lower-income owners often find that their homes need increasingly costly repairs, while their incomes barely suffice to pay the mortgage and taxes. The problem is particularly severe in Pennsylvania, where over 40% of our housing stock was built before 1950. Poorly maintained homes can lead to individual suffering, increased health and safety risks and even abandonment of the deteriorated home.

News

Jan 8 2019

The Inquirer Philadelphia is often called “The City of Neighborhoods,” an ode to its diverse housing stock and a high rate of home ownership. More than 52 percent of homes in the city are owner-occupied, 2017 data from the U.S. …more

Dec 4 2018

The Morning Call Jeff and Judy Travers have had little time — and money — to worry about the little things before they became big things. Their home on Northampton Street in Bangor is the only house they ever bought …more

Oct 23 2018

Over the last decade, Philadelphia saw a rise in rentership well above the national average, and higher than most of the nation’s other large cities, according to new data released Tuesday by APM Research Lab and Marketplace. The percent of Philly …more

Oct 16 2018

Local Habitat for Humanity representatives joined with supporters and financial backers to celebrate its impending project to build four new single-family homes in the borough. Morrisville residents living along Woodland Avenue soon will have a brand new set of neighbors. …more

Oct 9 2018

Since 1986, the Habitat for Humanity Homeownership Program has been helping individuals in the Williamsport area overcome, what may have seemed insurmountable obstacles, in order to realize the dream of owning their own home. Now the group is in the …more

Oct 2 2018

People saddled with student loan debt are delaying purchasing a home and many worry about their college debt most or all of the time, according to the sixth annual NeighborWorks® America at Home survey. The survey reveals that people with …more

Sep 18 2018

Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority on Thursday approved an allocation plan for the city’s $10 million affordable housing trust fund for the remainder of the year. The plan calls for allocating: •$750,000 for homeless rental assistance for short-term rental assistance for …more

Sep 11 2018

A board overseeing Pittsburgh’s $10 million affordable housing fund on Thursday recommended that the money be divided into five programs this year, including homeless rental assistance, subsidies to help with a down payment and closing costs on new home purchases …more

Sep 11 2018

Owning a home is often considered part of living the American Dream. But as housing costs have risen, that part of the dream has become more and more unattainable. Instead of just talking about the problem, Penn State architecture and …more

Sep 11 2018

FHLBank Pittsburgh and its member financial institutions, First Commonwealth Bank and Brentwood Bank, recently presented Hazelwood Initiative, Inc. and Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh with Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant funding totaling $1,834,455. The organizations presented the funding at an event held …more